Gyeonggi-do Installs Openable Security Windows in Semi-basement Homes for Disaster Escape

Gyeonggi Province will provide free installation support for 'openable security windows' that enable quick escape in case of fire or flooding in semi-basement houses.

The support targets semi-basement houses inhabited by vulnerable groups (children, elderly, disabled, youth-headed households, single-parent families, recipients under the National Basic Livelihood Security Act, and near-poverty groups). Residents must apply, and if the applicant is not the owner of the house, the owner's consent is required.

Gyeonggi Province plans to carry out this project in 12 areas within the province, including Suwon, Yongin, and Pyeongtaek. Candidates will be selected through recruitment next month, and installation will be completed before the rainy season.

Gyeonggi Provincial Government

Semi-basement houses often have fixed security windows installed to protect against crime risks, but these fixed security windows can prevent escape during disasters such as heavy rain or fire, posing a threat to residents' safety.

In August 2022, there was a case where a resident tried to escape through a window when the entrance door was blocked due to flooding in a semi-basement house caused by heavy rain, but was unable to escape because of the fixed security window, resulting in a fatal accident.

Lee Jong-don, Director of Safety Management at Gyeonggi Province, stated, "We will continue efforts to create living environments where vulnerable groups, who are more susceptible to disasters, can secure safety from disasters and various accidents."